Highfields Tavern attempted robbery accused granted bail

Peter Hardwick
Reporter
Peter started in 1976 as apprentice typesetter/comp and has 32 years with The Chronicle in three stints (in between working/holidays in UK/Europe, Brisbane and Melbourne). Entered editorial from comp room in 1996.

A MAN accused of trying to rob the Highfields Tavern has been granted bail.

Shane Kenneth Nash had been held in custody since his arrest for the alleged incident in September last year after being denied bail in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

However, his solicitor Stuart Bale brought a fresh application for bail before the court yesterday citing a change of circumstance in that his client's mother was prepared to put up a $5000 surety.

His client's mother had travelled from the Gold Coast where she was holidaying to be in court in Toowoomba for the bail application, he told the court.

His client also had the prospect of brick-laying work in the Maryborough area if granted bail, he said.

Mr Bale submitted his client had been held in custody for almost five months and if not granted bail faced considerable time in custody before the case was heard.

Nash, 32, and co-accused Nicolaus Alexander Blyton, 26, of Mt Lofty, are accused of attempting to rob the tavern.

Police claim Nash had hidden in the ceiling of the tavern after going to the toilet in the early hours of Sunday, September 17.

It is alleged when the tavern closed at 4am, Nash, 31, had exited the toilet and unlocked the door so co-accused Blyton could enter.

Neither accused has been required to enter pleas to charges of attempted robbery while armed in company and entering a premises with intent.

Blyton was granted bail with strict conditions including reporting to police three times a week, submitting to random drug testing by police and to putting up a $5000 surety when he first appeared in court in September.

Hearing the fresh application for bail by Nash, Acting Magistrate Roger Stark said it appeared the prosecution case was a strong one.

However, Mr Stark said he was prepared to grant bail provided Nash abided by a number of conditions.

Those conditions included Nash residing with his mother in Maryborough during the period of remand, report to police every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, submit to random testing by police for illicit drugs, have no contact with his co-accused Blyton and a woman named to the court, not attend the Highfields Tavern and, through his mother, provide a surety of $5000.